CHAMPAIGN — Every good host knows what it takes to be the site of the biggest and best party of the season.
Football coach Bret Bielema and his Illinois football team proved on Saturday that they can entertain large crowds and send them home happy — everyone except No. 19 Kansas and their fans.
The Fighting Illini took advantage of three interceptions of Jayhawks quarterback Jalon Daniels — including a pick-six by Xavier Scott — to go along with a pair of massive second-half scoring drives on their way to a 23-17 victory before a sold-out crowd of 60,670 at Memorial Stadium.
“We have been waiting for this moment,’’ said Illinois coach Bret Bielema, noting their biggest win previous to Saturday was 20-18 triumph over seventh-rated Penn State in Happy Valley, Pa. “I just want to say thank you to anybody and everybody that came here tonight and put that stadium into a level that I’ve never seen before.’’
Before Saturday, the only times that Bielema had seen a packed Memorial Stadium was when he was with either Iowa or Wisconsin.
“You just can’t replace moments,’’ he said.
And it was those moments during the game that allowed Illinois to avenge last year’s loss to Kansas.
The biggest probably came from Scott, a junior defensive back from Riviera Beach, Fla.
With the Jayhawks holding a 10-6 lead late in the first half, Scott jumped in front of a pass intended for Kansas wide receiver Quentin Skinner and raced 30 yards for a touchdown giving the Illini a 13-10 halftime lead.
“Coach (Aaron Henry) put us in a great call,’’ Scott said. “We kind of switched it up a little bit. They hadn’t see us play that coverage before. I just saw the quarterback wind up and I was in the flat, and here we go.’’
It was a momentum changing play and the noise inside the stadium proved it.
“They made some really big-time plays,” Kansas coach Lance Leipold said. “When you play against good football players, they’re going to make good plays.’’
Daniels would come back.
The junior quarterback, who was 18-of-32 for 141 yards, found an open Lawrence Arnold for a 13-yard scoring strike with 4 minutes, 57 seconds to go in the third quarter that gave the Jayhawks a 17-13 lead.
“I don’t think anything in life that you get from someone means a lot,’’ Bielema said. “When you work for it, put a lot of energy and put a lot of work into it, than it means a lot.’’
Illinois went into work mode in the fourth quarter.
Kaden Feagin capped an 8-play, 80-yard drive with a 1-yard run that gave Illinois a 20-17 lead. Wide receiver Pat Bryant had an amazing catch to get the ball down the Kansas 1.
On the very next drive, it was freshman running back Ca’Lil Valentine picking up some big yards and senior wide receiver Zahkari Franklin’s sideline catch that extended the drive. Franklin also had an amazing 1-handed catch on the sideline in the first half.
“Focus, and concentration,’’ said Franklin are the keys to those catches. “In the first half, the defensive back was on me a little bit, I just stuck my hand out and made a play.
“The other sideline catch, I just knew I had to make it.’’
Illinois kicker David Olano, who made a 50-yarder into the wind in the second quarter, capped that 15-play, 42-yard drive with a 43-yard field goal.
The Jayhawks had one last chance but Scott, who is the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, sealed the victory with a sack and a strip on Daniels.
“When that ball came out it was a pure euphoric moment,’’ Bielema said.
But, it’s what he expected all week.
“I told our coaches and our players when we win this game, I said that several times today, and (Friday) and when I spoke to them on Thursday,’’ he said. “I just had a feeling that we were going to matchup well. I liked our demeanor. I thought our game plan was really, really good. I liked the matchups.
“This is a very good football team for a year ago. We have been preaching about rematch games. I felt really good about this game. It was fun to watch it play out in front of you.’’
It was the first time that Illinois (2-0) had beaten a ranked nonconference opponent at home since topping No. 22 Arizona State on Sept. 17, 2011.
Up next for Illinois is a home game this Saturday at 11 a.m. against Central Michigan.